Process of making oxalates from formates.



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARNOLD WIENS, OF BITTERFELD, GERMANY, ASSIGNOR TO ELECTROCHEMISCHE WERKE G. M. B. 11., 0F BITTERFELD, GERMANY, A CORPORATION OF GERMANY.

PROCESS OF MAKING OXALATES FROM FORMATES.

Specification of Application filed September No Drawing.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARNOLD Trans, a subject of the German Emperor, residing at Bitterfeld, in the Empire of Germany, whose post-ofiice address is Bitterfeld, Germany, have invented a certain new and useful process for manufacturing oxalates from the corresponding formates by heating in a space from which the air has been partially exhausted, of which the following is a specification.

It has not heretofore been considered racticable to convert in a technically satisactory manner formates into oxalates by heating them without any addition whatever.

In a process first mentioned by Merz and Weith wherein there is used a chamber the air of which is partially exhausted, as it was thought that air exerted a prejudicial influence on the formation of oxalate, a high temperature, from 360 upward, was employed and this was considered essential (see Reports of the German Chem. 800., Vol. 15 (1882) page 1508 and following). When the temperature is raised to the extent considered essential by Merz and Weith in a vacuum as perfect as can be obtained the reaction becomes so violent as to render the process impracticable. As, however, it seems to have been their intention to exclude air only to some extent it may be assumed that- Merz and Weith operated only in a partially exhausted space. The defect above referred to is obviated when the conversion of formate is caused to take place in a space from which the air has been partially or completely exhausted at a temperature below 360. The process of reaction will proceed quite smoothly and without the occurrence of explosions at a temperature of 280; it is possible even to interrupt the process, as the development of hydrogen occurring during the process at the low temperature will at once cease as soon as the vacuum is suspended, or become so slight as not to 've rise to interruptions. Admixture an the loss inevitably attendant thereon can be entirely dispensed with. In the Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 25, 1910.

Serial No. 392,781.

for transporting the substance is dispensed with, no losses can occur, and the heat contained in the finished formate in the autoclaves is not lost. The temperature of the reaction is lower than in any of the methods heretofore employed, with the result that there can be elfected a considerable saving of fuel. The hydrogen removed by suction may be employed as fuel or as it is pure it may be employed for other purposes. Even if other substances are added to the formate, in accordance with the processes described in the German Patents Nos. 111078 and 161512 the process to which this invention relates offers advantages. The process, is, however, most advantageous when no such additions are made.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. The process for manufacturing oxalates, which consists in bringing formates into a vessel and heating the formates therein in vacuo at a temperature substantially below 860 (1.; substantially as described.

2. The process for manufacturing oxalates, which consists in bringing formates into a vessel and heating the formates therein in cacao at a temperature in the neighborhood of 280 0.; substantially as described.

' 3. The process for manufacturing oxalates which consists in bringing formates into a vessel, exhausting the air as completely as possible therefrom and heating the formates to between 280 C. and 360 C.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribin witnesses.

ARNGLD WIENS.

Witnesses:

JULIUS RI'iNDLAND, KARL KREKEBEN. 

